The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-09-30

Re Fora moment Colin suspected that 81
was trying to snub him, but Miss Can
pion attributed Betty's rudeness to f
tigue, and sent her off TO bed very SOC
after dinner -.
During the next few days Betty foun
numberless opportunities Of slightin
Colin, but she was so gentle and aife'
tiona:e 10 her godmother that he II
tained his first opinion as to the swee
ness Of her character. He accepted ht
T. Sights with SO much good temper, an
received his aunt's praises with such ger
uine amusement, that Betty was at Ia.
compelled 10 confess to herself that he
estimate Of him had been altogethe
wrong She felt that she could not re
spect him very much, for a man VIII
would marry any girl for expediency
sake was not worthy Of much honor; bu
she would be more polite TO him, as hi
conduct would not in any way aiTec
her.
Colin was very grateful for this chang,
in her attitude toward him, and friend
ship sprang up between them which OF
his side deepened into love. OF her feel
ings he could guess little. She was in
variably sweet and frank; but the fear o
losing her friendship by attempting tC
gain her love for some time prevented
him from putting his fate into her hands
On the last day OF her visit, however, the
longing of his heart overcame this fear,
and he poured out all his soul TO her, not
noticing that her face was hardening al
his words.
TEL me, Bettyl Give me one word Of
I hopei Have ! any chSncelH he pleaded.
She turned toward him then, her face
white and stern, her mouth wearing a
faint. bitter smile.
How well you do itiH she said, in a
hard voice.
do IN What do YOU meanln he asked.
his voice changing too. Don't you I'M
derstand3 / love you, Betty"
'.Hnsh" she interrupted, harshly.
THAT is quite enough. No, can give
you no hope; you have nc chance. Never
speak Of this to me again in-snd, rising
from her garden-chair, she went into the
house and up TO her OWE room.
This was what il all meant theni How
blind he had 5eenl She was the ''sweet
girl" whom Miss Campion thought u
suitable wife for Colin. She had been
invited here in order that Colin might
see If she would do" How grateful
she ought to feel
She went down stairs presently. feel
ing glad that this was her last day at
Forde. She found Miss Csmpion sitting
alone in the drawing room, looking
little displeased
Il am so cross, my dear, said the old
lady, drawing Betty to a seat by her
side. ''Colin has ridden over to the Lad
brokes' for dinner. 1t was very thought
less of him not to remember that this
was your last evening"
1T does not matter, godmother," said
Betty, with gentle GOODNESS. Il would
rather spend it alone with YOU
Would YOU, dearl l thought you
and Colin had got on more comfortably
lately.
1T was only surface agreement, -
answered Betty, rather proudly. I'VE
are too entirely opposed in character to be
really friends
"You viii hardly believeit, Betty, but
had planned a match between you two.
! thought YOU were so well suited for each
other, andi it would have been so nice for
me to think Of your living here together
after my deashi''
"And you spoke to him about itl"
questioned Betty, without raising her
eyes.
YES; on the evening before you came
! told him what / wished. But | was to
meet the fate Of all match-makers, you
see, she added, signing. "Colin said
that he would never marry unless ne was
in iove-ihat he must reserve to himself
the right Of choosing his wife. And, as
you say. dear. you and he were very far
from falling in love"
tdiisdini' { he agree 10 what YOU wished 1
Then have wronged him terribly; he is I
ever so much nicer than thoughtF'
''You thoughti' questioned Miss /
Campion slowly. '.Ah, remember now
I told you that was going to
speak to him, and you believed |
that he would marry any one l sug-
gesied, How foolish and wrong l have
beeul- You might have liked him /
4 you had not been so prejudiced before
hand, and everything might have been
DO not grieve, godmother," said
Betty. gently. s1f we have not been
friends, il is quite my own fault. had
DO right to judge him before 1 knew
him
But, in spite of her brave words, her
leart sank strangely She knew that she
would have accepted Collins love had
he understood what he was offering her
for her belief in his unworthiness,
hough it had destroyed her trust in him,
rad not been strong enough TO kill her
ove. And now her life would be one
Ong sorrow for that mistake Colin
would never speak to her of his love
Igain-had she not peremptorily for
lidden hint He had gone away now TO
void her, and after tomorrow she would
lever zee him again. But at any rate,
he would see him once more, and then
@ Oh. surely he would see that she
vas sorry for having misjudged him so.
But Colin remained at the Ladbrokes'
or the night, and had not returned to
forde when she left it the next morning
or home
Betty had been right when she assumed
hat Colin had gone away on the previous
iftern0on to avoid her Her harsh re-
ection of his proposal had reused his
niger, and he had felt too hurt to bid
Ter good-by. But on his return TO Lon
lon his anger grew less as time passed
N, though his love for Betty did not
finnish As his thoughts dwelt on her
% constantly. he began TO seek for some
esson for her unkindness, and the more
nexplieable did her conduct appear.
Ter harshness and anger the day that he
proposed TO her were so at variance with
yer character that he at last concluded
hat some misunderstanding must exist
a her mind which be ought to explain
way.
This idea led him TO make a journey to
)evonshire, few days later, though his
iopes Of winning Betty's love were
mall.
He walked over to the Rectory on the
morning after his arrival, and was shown
nto the empty drswing-room oy a neat
naid-serranf, who told him that Betty